Platinum (Date-A-Dragon Book 3) Page 7

  His hand found the back of her neck, entwining with her soft, curly hair as he opened her mouth and swiped inside with his tongue. Lori gave out an eager moan in response, and he did it again, taking his time as he explored. Their tongues entwined for a moment, and as they did, his other hand found her side, squeezing her soft curves.

  One thing was for sure. Lori was all woman in all the right ways. And Sever knew he was never going to be able to let her go after this.

  He left her mouth, kissing her cheek and then moving lower to her neck, her wayward strands of hair tickling his skin as she shuddered in arousal at his touch. But it wasn’t enough. With each touch, each breath, he felt more attached to her, attracted, bound to her in an unbreakable way, as if even the very laws of nature would have to give in to the force of his desire for her.

  Damn, it was going to be hard to keep his dragon at bay, even for just a night.

  To Sever’s surprise, Lori repositioned herself in his lap, straddling him with both legs. It gave him a magnificent view of her full breasts and wide hips, and Sever was all too aware of how painfully close they were.

  But he didn’t stop, now holding her at her sides while he kissed more fervently wherever her skin was left bare by the tee and light jacket she wore to ward off the cool evening breeze.

  Outside and all around them, darkness permeated beyond the reach of the dim house lights, casting everything into soft shadows. Beyond the fence, Sever could hear night wildlife begin their routine, with crickets and cicadas calling out, making the air buzz in the back of his ears.

  But no matter what was out there, Sever was here to protect Lori.

  Feeling a rush of adrenaline come over him at the thought, Sever stood, carrying Lori effortlessly and turning them around, setting her on the swinging chair as he kneeled on the patio before her.

  “Whoa,” she squeaked out in surprise as the old wood of the chair complained at the sudden motion.

  Even kneeling, Sever was at a good level with Lori as he covered her with his kisses and encompassed her with his body.

  Though he knew nothing was out there, that nobody was watching, he couldn’t help feeling the sting of possessiveness at wanting her all for himself. Wanting no one else to see her.

  Lori didn’t have any complaints either, instead relaxing against the swing as his hands cupped her full breasts and his mouth covered hers once more. He squeezed as their lips pressed together, and this time she moaned, a soft sound that would have been indiscernible in the quiet din of the breeze and crickets, but was like a clear bell ringing right next to Sever’s ear.

  “You’re so beautiful, Lori,” Sever couldn’t resist saying, his heart practically bursting at the signal of her pleasure and even more eager to bring her so very much more tonight.

  “I… Thank you,” she replied, distracted as he nibbled at her earlobe, playing with it between his lips and tongue. “You’re really something yourself.”

  Normally, he would have said something back, but he was more interested in other things as he bit down ever so lightly on her ear, and she gasped a little more loudly than before, punctuating the night air.

  Sever heard wood creak from inside the house and pricked his ear to hear more. But nothing else happened, and the sound of a light snore from the second story reassured him Taylor was well asleep still.

  “We should probably take this somewhere more private,” Sever exclaimed, looking into Lori’s hazel eyes that shone in the rising moonlight.

  “I guess,” she replied, sounding extremely hesitant, fearful perhaps that if they relocated, the magic of the moment would somehow be lost.

  As if.

  “Wouldn’t want to wake up Taylor and have to explain,” she added.

  “True.”

  Quickly, Sever thought of a place they could relocate to. Inside the house would be risky, since all their rooms were on the top floor, their doors each only a few paces away from each other. And they couldn’t simply pick a random spot out in nature, as there was nothing but dry grass and scraggly brush surrounding them.

  Suddenly, an errant moonbeam caught the corner of his vision, and Sever glanced behind him at the dusty white truck parked a fair distance from the house in the front drive, intentionally there so others would know he was around.

  The salesperson had told him it had a “deluxe extended cab.” Surely, it would be enough for two people.

  Even if one of those two people was a dragon.

  Before Lori could lose another second of pleasure, Sever stood and whisked her into his arms, stepping down the porch and heading toward the vehicle.

  “Where are we goi—oh,” Lori said as she turned to look in the direction they were walking. “Are you serious?”

  “Very much so,” he replied, undeterred. He reached the truck and opened the door, laying her down on the flat row of seats in the back, then stepping inside himself and closing the door behind, making sure to lock it for good measure. “Nothing is going to stand in my way when it comes to protecting you or pleasuring you.”

  Lori had to suppress a giggle at how Sever practically filled the entire cab of the truck by himself as he took up an awkward semi-crouched, semi-kneeling hunched position just so he could be over her.

  But there was nothing funny about the way his dark, platinum-colored eyes watched her, catching the beams of moonlight as they poured through the windows and made flecks of steel shine in his gaze.

  And there was something about the claustrophobic closeness that made her temperature rise several degrees, being in such close proximity to so much man. More than she’d ever experienced or would likely ever see again in this life.

  And even if this was all temporary. Even if it was just a temporary fix to a long-term problem, Lori would never be able to express in words the gratitude she felt toward this man who’d come from nowhere into her and Taylor’s lives.

  It didn’t hurt that he had the body of a wrestler and the face of an angelic warrior not from this world.

  “Now where were we?” Sever said, his voice teasing her as he came closer, thick muscle and heat everywhere she looked. And in response to his own statement, his hands found her hips as he leaned down to kiss her again, sending fire through her veins and bringing her right back to what they were doing in an instant.

  Every part of her begged for his touch. Begged for his kisses. It was a feeling she could only barely control when she was around him and was dialed up to eleven now that they were here.

  His hands played beneath her shirt, tantalizing her, and not wanting to wait a second longer, she pulled her shirt up and undid the back of her bra, loosening it around her, but not taking it off entirely.

  In an instant, Sever was there, his mouth closed over one breast, the sensation like a bolt of lightning but all pleasure coursing through her, charging something deep within that built faster each passing second. And as he did that, his hands squeezed lightly, pressing into her flesh, intensifying the feel of his wet tongue over her nipple.

  He was ravenous. Unstoppable as he went back and forth, suckling then laving one nipple then the other with his tongue, then working down to her belly button as his huge hands ran down her sides, setting off little sparks of light in her.

  He stopped, and she heard a thud as his shoulder hit the back of one of the front seats. He mumbled something in frustration about human vehicles not being made for something, but she didn’t catch the last word. Then as he tried to move a little, his head hit the roof of the truck, making it rock back and forth from the impact that she was surprised didn’t leave a dent.

  Lori giggled lightly as she reached around and clicked a button, sending the seat into a down position and giving Sever some much-needed shoulder room. He grinned down at her and smiled, then came back down to where he had been a second ago, kissing a long line down the side of her hips and beneath the hem of her jeans, making Lori’s breath catch in sheer anticipation.

  Then he undid the button of her jeans and lower
ed the zipper, grazing his finger over her, and she almost came right there.

  There was just something about a such a huge, protective man being centered solely on her pleasure that was more than Lori could contain.

  Thankfully, her body held back, excited for more from this mysterious man as he pulled her jeans down slightly, even the hot air around her arousing her.

  And then his finger slid upward over her center, and she really did lose it.

  Instantly, her hands gripped whatever they could find, which happened to be a seat cushion and a random handle above her as incredible light seized her entire body all at once, shoving out all thought and feeling as it inundated her with wild passion that defied description.

  Even breathing was a chore as the orgasm ripped through her, and once it was done, she still had to work just to maintain something so simple as that.

  But through the whole thing, Sever had just watched her, metallic eyes intense and satisfied.

  Behind him, she noticed the windows of the truck were now heavily fogged, the microscopic beads of condensation casting the once-stark rays of moonlight coming through the glass into a soft glow that surrounded them on every side now, surreal and unearthly.

  Interrupting her racing, post-orgasm thoughts, Lori felt Sever’s finger caress her clit, firm and intentional, making her arch back against the seats beneath her as if trying to mitigate the intensity of the sensation.

  But it was no use. Every tiny flick, every minuscule motion of his hand or fingers over her set her entire body alight with internal movement, her muscles and nerves going haywire with arousal. And everything she tried to do to hold back only seemed to make her body go faster, like a train racing toward the end of the tracks.

  Then Sever stopped, and she felt herself lifted slightly, propped against the back of the door as Sever lowered his head between her legs, making the truck rock back and forth once again as he tried to reposition and bumping into corners and seats as he did.

  A thrill of excitement raced through Lori a second before a blinding flash of light did as she felt a warm, soft tongue cover her.

  It was even stronger than the first, amplified by the sensitivity of her body and the intensity of Sever’s lovemaking. This time when she reached to grab something, she found Sever, everywhere around her, holding him like a life raft in the midst of a raging sea of pleasure until it finally passed into pleasant wonder.

  And then a minute later, he made her come again with his tongue, pulling every ounce of energy and distilling it into pure sexual pleasure that was sweeter than anything she’d ever tasted in her entire life.

  But even with the incredible releases he gave, Lori could still feel an emptiness deep inside her. A want to be one with him. To have Sever inside her, joining with her as they rode the sea he’d cast her into.

  “I… wow,” was all she could muster, even basic words failing her she was so overcome.

  “An understatement, I’m sure,” Sever said, seemingly pleased. He let out a deep breath. “I suppose we should get you back inside so you can rest.”

  “Wait,” she said nervously, pushing herself up on one hand. “What about—”

  He shook his head. “I don’t think the back of a truck will be sufficient,” he said, his smile rueful. “Tonight was… amazing. More than I ever imagined.”

  “But you didn’t—”

  He put a finger up to her lips, then gently caressed them. “I got everything I could have wanted. I got to make you happy.”

  Happy. For so long, she’d only wondered about doing the right thing. About helping others be happy through life’s trials.

  And in spite of it all, in spite of her wariness, she could tell in her heart that Sever really meant what he said.

  And he was right. The truck was too small, and this was all moving fast…

  And they had more days ahead of them.

  “Well, thank you,” she said awkwardly.

  He nodded, smiling. With his help, she got her clothes back on, and he carried her inside, tiptoeing so quietly through the house even a cat would be envious.

  Chapter 9

  After the best moments of his life, Sever had gone back to his room on Lori’s insistence. She didn’t want to do anything improper or that would confuse Taylor, and Sever agreed.

  After all, she didn’t know this was forever yet. He’d played with the idea of telling her and just getting it all out there, but she hadn’t taken it well, getting angry and assuming he was lying.

  He thought there were probably other things that weren’t going to go over well with her, since she found merely the idea of love at first sight unbelievable.

  Like him being an immortal, awakened dragon with powers beyond her comprehension.

  Still, as he watched Lori and Taylor set up a game of Sorry on a folding table on the porch, smiling and laughing as they did, he decided the only power that mattered now was the ability to watch out for them.

  Which he could do even with his ring on. When the time came to tell her, or show her, what he was, he would just have to deal with it.

  Taylor’s thick hair was pulled back in a ponytail that looked a bit like Sever’s, though he didn’t seem to want to acknowledge it. If Lori was adopting Taylor, that meant Sever would hopefully get to as well, as her mate.

  From what he’d seen of Taylor so far, he was a brave kid who would make a good man, with the right people watching out for him.

  Sever had to thank some far-off star for the good fortune of a readymade family waiting here for him in this tiny, isolated place.

  Perhaps he was still just riding a high because of what had happened between him and Lori last night in the truck.

  He knew she deserved better. A soft blanket on some private patch of grass under the stars or a beautiful room with a soft bed. But something about the intimacy of the truck, the urgency there, had been just right.

  “Okay,” Taylor said, pushing the board to the middle of the table. “Your turn.”

  “I’m first?” Sever asked. “Why?”

  “We rolled for it. Lori and I rolled a 1 and a 2, so I’m pretty sure you’ll be first.” The boy looked disappointed, and Sever bit his lip, looking over at Lori.

  “Why don’t you go first and show me how it’s done? I’ll go last, so hopefully I can pick up on things from there.” Sever hadn’t played a lot of these human games, and though Lori had assured him it was designed to be easy enough for kids, he wasn’t sure how it was rated for dragons.

  But it turned out to be quite simple, and he had already settled in and had several of his pieces knocked cruelly out of the way by Taylor when he heard the distant sound of a truck.

  His ears perked and he looked over, squinting at the clouds of dust gathering in the distance, way down the road in the opposite direction of town.

  Who would be coming?

  If they intended to set something on fire again, Sever wasn’t going to hold back on them.

  He might not hold back either way. These people were his now, and he was going to protect them. As a man, if not as a dragon.

  Lori put a hand on his arm and he felt instantly calmer. “It’s okay,” she said. “Take it easy.”

  Taylor looked over at them, worried. “Why are they coming here again?”

  Apparently, he recognized the truck.

  As it pulled up to the drive and parked in front, Sever recognized it, too. The men from the other day. The ones he’d had to threaten to stay away from Lori.

  Apparently, they weren’t so good at listening.

  The two men got out of the truck. They were wearing dark, canvas jackets that had seen better days, and their blond hair was in disarray. They were tall, taller than most average humans, and had a ranginess to them that told Sever they’d be quick in a fight if they wanted to be.

  But they’d have to be a lot more than that to stand a chance against a dragon.

  “I’ll go talk to them,” Lori said with a sigh, standing up.

&
nbsp; Sever caught her arm gently but firmly and pulled her back. “Taylor, stay here and guard Lori.”

  Taylor sat up a little straighter with pride, and Lori groaned. Sever locked eyes with her, silently trying to communicate that this was the best way to help Taylor. To give him some sense of control and keep him out of the fight.

  She seemed to understand, though she didn’t like it.

  The older one stepped out first, his expression grim as he strode forward, hands in his pockets, glare ominous. His brother came around the other side, his lip curled, eyes slightly crazy.

  That was the one they had to worry about. A mean man was better than even a nice one who didn’t have control over himself. And that second man wasn’t even a little nice.

  Sever walked forward calmly, sizing up the men. He hadn’t gotten a lot of chance to test his restrained strength against humans since having his ring on. He’d been in a fight against Mercury, but dark memories still rose whenever he thought about that particular dragon, so he decided not to.

  He cracked his knuckles and swung his head so his braid swished back over his shoulder, out of the way.

  Ready to fight.

  “I thought I told you to stay out,” Sever said, now halfway down the drive and only about ten feet away from them.

  “And we told you it wasn’t over,” the younger, slightly crazy one said.

  “Jud,” the older one said, putting up a hand.

  “Dud?” Sever asked, barking a laugh.

  “Jud,” the man snapped. “Get it right. Or don’t. It won’t matter in a minute.”

  The older one pushed the younger one out of the way and stopped forward. His eyes were a dark, cold brown with gold at the center. “We don’t want trouble. Not with you.”

  “Speak for yourself, John,” Jud said, fairly frothing at the mouth as he stepped side to side lightly. “I want trouble.”

  “Well, now that you’ve set foot on Lori’s land, you’ve got it.” Sever looked at John. “You and ‘Dud’ have one minute to get your asses out of here before we have a big problem.”